Attire – decoded

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At my school 9 out of 10 people are wearing blue jeans. Seriously. ANYTIME, almost everybody is wearing blue jeans. I'll never wear them. I don't want to be a part of that.

Does anyone know of pants that are soft like sweat pants and easy to take on and off? (I.e. you can just pull down the front to take a piss, without having to deal with zippers, buttons, or belts?) They seem very difficult to find.

Edit: ZOMG STICKY?! ^___^

sigholdaccountlost: Sneakers - yeah I'd forgotten those are also called trainers over that side of the globe You shouldn't use trainers as the only shoes you wear, nor should they be used for anything but extremely casual outings. They are sports shoes Not for job interviews, dates, meetings, work, important events. I notice a lot of people are very comfortable going everywhere in a pair of 'em, and it just doesn't cut the mustard if you want people to take you seriously. There are similar styles of shoe for day to day use...heck if you're young enough you can get away with wearing a pair of Vans or something similar...

Mandelbrot: Sounds like you're a step ahead there in getting yourself dressed up nicely, though I can see the cliche there in your style. It's nice, but it'll definitely have that 'professor' look...if that's what you're after. Hurr.

Aspie1: Glad you find this of use You'll have to keep us updated on any progress!

Veresae: Everyone here does too...in fact I'm wearing blue denim flares at work right now. LOL. They're easy. Even my sis, who is a fashion whore and does anything to stand out and be different, will wear 'em...because they're the simplest answer. It's like the bra of the casual fasion world...lmao. Don't ignore em because everyone else wears 'em, ignore 'em if they're uncomfortable and just do NOT suit your style at all As for sweatpants that you can pull down easily...well let's hope you're not planning to wear those out. That's like going to a WRX meet in an old Honda Civic and parking beside the Impreza STis There have GOT to be better answers than sweatpants! But if that's what you're most comfortable with, all good...just know what you're representing there.




Righty.

As mentioned a few posts back, there's something else that should kinda be talked about too, methinks.

Hygeine and hair...
Yeah sorry folks, it's a biggie that I sorta brushed over Along with what you're wearing, one should take into account their own body when meeting other people.

Most people have a good sense of smell for a start! Don't underestimate the power of the average nose - they can smell BO a mile off and most will find it repugnant - yes DISGUSTING - if they can smell it on you.

Mmmm, stinky.
So how do you control your body odour? Yes, that's right, deodorant.

Horrible stuff, some might say. Unnecessary, others might add. Well frankly, stench from bacteria mouldering about in your sweat is horrible and unnecessary too - it's especially bad for guys, whom I am focussing on in this as well.

There are several different kinds available out there in the main market, some of which are better than others. There are different scents, no scents, different ingredients, etc. Different styles, even.

Spray-on deodorant - aerosol can: this kind of deodorant is ACTUALLY more often than not just a body spray. It smells good, especially to the target audience (this is where different sexualities come in - scent is important here). Thing is, you spray it on and obtain its scent...but it DOESN'T eliminate the source of stink.

Something that you'll find many women find offputting is the smell of spray-on over existing body odour. It's ice cream with tomato sauce, if you know what I mean. You can smell both, and they mix together in a rather nasty way.

When you look for a spray-on deodorant, look at the can CAREFULLY. Take note as to whether it says body spray or deodorant. Deodorant will contain ingredients to neutralise the cause of the odour; body spray will add a new one over the top. You want a DEODORANT

I'm sure you will know how to use this stuff too. Focus on your armpits...this be where most of the stink comes from. Following that, the chest and torso area just lightly. There's not a heck of a lot of need to venture further than that unless you have particularly strong BO.

Roll-on deodorant: This stuff is the plain, borng, never-fail of deodorants. If you have a problem with BO, this stuff will kill it. Find yourself a good brand, something you like...some will be scentless, others will have a slight scent.

Most roll-ons are the liquid kind. They have a large roller-ball at the top of the bottle... roll it a few times against each armpit and let it dry (this is the pain...it takes a little while to dry sometimes If I've got time I tend to just lie on my bed after a shower and relax, things are nice and dry after a minute or so...otherwise dump your shirt on and go, no biggie).

Other kinds have come onto the market recently - another is a solid white compound that works under the same principle. Usually this is more for the gals, but they may have the same for guys. The advantage is there is no drying time - it's already dry. The disadvantage is that some can leave a white residue (some not all, some brands are better than others) especially if you have plenty of hair in your pits.

Since these two have little or no scent, it's good to add something over the top. You can use a spray-on over the top, either deodorant or body spray (which often have a wider range of scents to choose from)...or you can have a peek below...

Perfume for the gals, cologne for the boys: Here we have the classy alternative. Body sprays are for a younger market, and for more casual use; these two are for a more mature or a more formal use as they are far more expensive (and far nicer, normally).

Here, it's best to look for quality and a scent that suits you. Here in NZ at least, one can be looking at the $100 mark or more (converts to what, $60US or more on average) for a good perfume or cologne. Some brands are cheaper and do the job just as well, whereas others can me far, far more expensive for that name.

You will encounter obsessed NTs (particularly women) who will take one whiff of you at a distance and recognise the exact scent you're wearing. This can be a good thing...they will compliment your style if they approve, which is usually likely if they can recognise the product. It's a more obscure fashion accessory, in a way.

With these items there's a balance between the name, the price and what suits you. When it comes down to it...pick one of the three if you're pressed for time or indecision (name, price, suitability). Pick two if you're looking to make a good job of it. You'll get all three if you're the luckiest person alive

When looking for a good one, often you'll find a good range at a pharmacy or department store...easiest place to go without having to go to any specialty places. Most places will have testers; spray a teeny bit into the paper they supply from the tester bottle, take a whiff once it's dry, see if you like it. Some testers will come already sprayed...others may come with the name of the product on the paper. Sometimes it's just a good ol' pen note on the paper.

If you're unsure - which is very normal I assure you - talk to one of the staff. If you look dazed or confused or lost, they will probably come over to help you make a choice. Just say you're new to this all and you're looking for something that a) suits you, b) is cheap but good, c) is classy....etc...whatever your chosen criteria is. I'll usually go in and have a browse, tell them I'm after something fairly soft and feminine, with an air of sweetness. Nothing flowery...I hate flowery scents. They may ask you some questions to find out what would suit you. Let them know if there's anything you can't stand in a scent or something you like. Have a few whiffs of this that or the other to give yourself, and any staff helping you, an idea of what's good and what's not - don't let anyone tell you what's hot and not, btw, by brand name etc...because this is YOUR nose we're considering here

(though if you have a partner that has a fetish for a certain smell - my sister for example LOVES certain scents on men - you may wish to indulge them with that scent because suddenly it'll make you ten times more delicious to them )

An example of picking that right one with the help of staff - I went to a pharmacy to try and find something better than body spray. Got completely lost trying to move on from body spray to perfume. Lady came along to help...advised the most common scents for youngsters my age - was in late teens at the time. Didn't like them - most were flowery, some were too powdery in scent. Didn't like the strong citrusy scents either, too astringent for me. She picked out a random one - a soft, feminine scent with a more traditional feel about it. It's in an awesome bottle, and I still have some left...use it quite a bit. The bottle is in the shape of a curvaceous female figure with a corset drawn on in silver paint. Fantastic bottle, and a scent that suits me Not many 20-year-olds have it I imagine, but it's something that suits me. Jean-Paul Gaultier, I think is the name of its designer (and the name of the product from memory).

After all this testing and whiffing you'll end up smelling nothing but a whole lot of strange scents...your nose will be full of it. Not nice, not for anyone. The cure is sitting right there in the shop...if you're feeling overwhelmed, look for coffee beans. Yes, coffee beans. The smell of fresh coffee beans has a neutralising effect on all these scents and will clear your nose and head of all these perfumes or colognes. You'll find some beans either in a bowl, container or jar (some jars may be covered with holes in the lid, or open). Just lean in and breathe in...it'll cleanse your sinuses of all the junk. It'll probably wake you up a bit too. Even if you don't like coffee, the smell of the beans will definitely help.

Now that you've hopefully found something that suits you well, you have a special something for those special occasions that'll enhance you just a little more. Cologne, guys, usually goes hand-in-hand with the shirt and pants moments. Perfume gals...we tend to wear it more often, but again, if it's expensive stuff you may want to reserve it for special occasions only.

Right. Now we smell good Next we have...

Hair - the mop on your head and the carpet on your body...
Hair is another thing that adds to your overall image. Human hair is coarse compared to quite a few of our mammalian friends, and other than what's on our heads it's pretty sparse and scraggly. It's not that attractive, basically.

Different societies and different people have different ideas about what's hot and what's not. In some countries - focussing primarily on the Western world here - it's perfectly acceptable to be as hairy as you want. In other places, people find body hair revolting. Many fall somewhere in the middle, where excess body hair or unkempt body hair is distasteful. You should know what people look for where you live - generally speaking though (general populace), less is better.

First and foremost guys...the hair on your face needs to be looked after. A scraggly bearded face will make you look like a bushman or a walrus. Not the greatest image. I know that with sensory issues, shaving can be a pain in the at-dollarsign-dollarsign for some. There are many different things you can do between all (beard from hell) and nothing (bald face). If you want to experiment, play around with having a moustache, a goatee, well-kept sideburns if you want...have a play, try a few different styles if you wish.

A majority of gals will probably prefer a cleanshaven face.

If razors really, really itch you, then see if you like electric shavers. Less to nip and scratch, can give a good close shave. If you use a standard razor, try using a moisturising shaving cream when you shave. Using a shaving brush and an appropriate product with it instead will actually coax the hairs into standing up and will give you a closer, smoother shave and less irritation...it's a little more time-consuming and may cause irritation for anyone sensitive to...well, a bigass round brush being brushed over their skin. Also, try not to 'hack' at your skin...that is, short, sharp, quick movements. This can increase accuracy but it also rips more skin off your face and increases the chance of cutting yourself. Smooth, gentle, long movements will leave you with less fire after all is said and done

Girls...yeah, we shave too. For most, it's the armpits and the legs. Some countries, we don't need to bother. It's a personal choice for you depending on your culture, sexual preference and personal style...and of course, what's most comfortable for you.

Body hair works to amplify body odour. For us gals, it also detracts from the feminine appearance, especially if there's a lot of hair or it's dark.

If you choose to remove it, shaving is the quickest way. I'm sure though, that everyone here knows what a razor cut or razorburn in the armpits feels like...ouch. Itches and burns, irritates even NTs. Oh man do I know about it. The best way to do it effectively is to use a GOOD shaving foam to lubricate the blades. Do it in front of a mirror if you need to. Lift the elbow of the arm to be shaved alove your head and off to the side somewhat - stretches the skin taut and helps to avoid nicks. Go in smooth, gentle, long strokes...don't hack at the skin with your razor. If you're gentle and careful, you should get a close, smooth shave and no nicks.

Legs are similar...usually from the knee to the ankle is good enough. Shave against the grain (ankle to knee) in long, even, smooth strokes. Again, use shaving cream or shaving foam to avoid nicking your skin with the blade.

Both guys and gals should keep an eye on the blades of their razors (speaking of which, there is no rule for numbers of blades...originally there was only one blade, then they added two. They're up to FIVE now. You'll have your preference...I have a double blade, you may prefer three or more, or just the one). Make sure they are always sharp - a blunt blade will make you need to repeat strokes more, and increases the chance of nicking your skin and bleeding. NEVER shave with a rusty razor...ever! Replace the blade if it gets rusty or blunt.

If shaving just ain't for you, or you hate having to do it so often...or you're just ferkin' hairy (trust me I feel your pain...an interesting mix in this here crossbred mongrel's genes means...yep, I have a lot of dark hair )...you may want to look into alternative methods of hair removal.

Something quite nice that's been recently developed is hair removal foams and creams. These work to destroy the hair on your body where applied (often by being strongly alkaline) and ret*d its growth. Good if you have sensitive skin. Put 'em on, wait a few minutes (READ CAN CAREFULLY), and remove. Some need to be rinsed in the shower or bath, others come with a plastic razor-like pieces that you remove the dead hair and the foam/cream with in the same way as you'd use a razor. The hair grows back slowly, but it still grows back as stubble.

A more permanent method of course is waxing. Ouch, I hear everyone say...and I concur Now, with my genes, I've managed to score not only black body hair, but a LOT of it. Yeah, real nice on a girl So I've turned to wax. There are wax strips, cold wax and hot wax most commonly out there - the most effective is the hot wax. Here you need to be prepared for both temperature (it's HOT but it shouldn't burn), and the ripping sensation of course. First time usually sucks bollocks pain-wise, it's best to have an attendant (friend, family, someone you trust) to help if you need it. It's a bit of a stinging/burning sensation as the hair is ripped out, but gets less and less each time you do it. I've done it a good four times or so now (once a month is all it needs) and I barely notice it now.

Pressing your hands firmly against the spot you just waxed will aid in dissipating any discomfort you have. Best to start on the legs, when there hair is 5mm or longer. Little bits at a time, perhaps try with a less effective wax - less hair removed, less discomfort.

I'm particularly insensitive to waxing (i barely flinched despite the pain the first time, and nowadays I've gone from ankes to waist completely...and my GOODNESS is it worth it!) but I'll bet most of you with sensory issues will find this to be murder. If you're game enough to try, you can tune it out. If you're desperate enough to try but scared of the pain, try taking some painkillers before perhaps. There are also herbals out there (a herbal drink they give men at a place here in Auckland, particularly before they go in for the good ol' back sack n' crack ) that can relax you enough that it tampens your reactions to the sensation.

Gals - try to keep tabs on your eyebrows if you can, and if it's in your target market's interest. DON'T ever CUT any hair on your face ladies...you don't want to have stubble. This includes your eyelashes. Yeah, I've seen people cut those. Bad idea. All you need is a pair of tweezers to keep things tidy. It's best to get your eyebrows professionally shaped if you've never had it done...they will either use wax or tweezers to pull out unnecessary hair and give you a bright, attractive look. From there all you need to do us pluck out runaways as they grow back...at first it WILL bring tears to your eyes (NTs are no exception, trust me...it makes EVERYONE tear up) but after a while you will barely feel it. If it's just too much to handle...no biggie. It's not a major.

(In regards to what I imagine Ticker will mention...for those outside the typical heterosexual bandwidth, thicker and untouched eyebrows may be the preferred choice. In which case, throw the tweezers in the bin and ignore this paragraph. Ditto with the body hair comments if the feminine, cleanshaven, smooth look is inappropriate for your target audience.)

Guys, your back, chest and uh...backside...are the places you may want to focus on if you want to tidy up. Hairy bellies and chests are a turn-off for a majority of modern women, and if you want her to nibble on you from head to toe, she's not gonna want to encounter pubes from collarbone to ankle. For you folks it'll be a slightly more intense treatment as there's thicker hair and more of it in more tender places, but there are places that can do it professionally and some will have products that desensitise either your skin, your mind or your entire body first if it's all too much (this applies for NT guys too...it's a scary prospect for any man).

If hair removal is just too much for you and you can't handle the process or after-effects, don't worry. People will still appreciate a little effort. 'Trimming' or 'clippering' is commonly practised - this is just shortening and tidying up what you've got. This applies especially to what's in your pants. Keeping stuff of a reasonable, manageable length is just nice for any partner you may have, and can make things more comfortable for you too. Just don't take things too short if you're hypersensitive to shaving or waxing...this will have a smiliar effect, as very short hair itches and scratches. Leave at least a few mm in there.

The hair on your head
This isn't hard. Wash it, maintain it. No one likes the dead-animal-stuck-on-head look.

Girls - easy to maintain hairstyles are probably a wise choice, either long or short. If you're pressed for time, hate hair maintenance or just can't be bothered, the LEAST you can do is give it a comb or brush once a day. This is the difference between looking just casual and looking like you've been stuck on a desert island in a windstorm for a few weeks. Brushed plain haircuts can look just fine - my hair has grown out for a year and I have no time to get a haircut, so it's just long, black and straight. I part it to the side and brush it...looks professional enough in the workplace, and is easy to maintain. Unbrushed hair along with scrappy clothes will make people think you're homeless or a drug addict.

Guys - brush or comb rules apply here too. Unless you have very short hair that doesn't need brushing (think army style), please give it a comb once a day. Alternatively give it a bit of love and use a product in it to give it some style. No combovers unless you're over 50...even then it's still a little tragic and should be avoided. Longer hair on guys...definitely comb it if you don't style it or tie it back. The drug addict comment applies...it's a stereotypical look people associate with someone they don't want to be anywhere near, so the dead-unbrushed-animal-on-head look does you no favours.

Wash your hair regularly! Most hair needs to be washed somewhere between once a day and once every three days. DO NOT USE SOAP. Yes, I've seen that too. Soap will strip your hair and your scalp of any goodness it has. Use shampoo (yes guys, you too...in fact they have mens-only shampoo) always. Use conditioner if your hair is brittle, dry, oily, or if you scalp itches, has dandruff, is particularly oily or is dry. Guys...yes, this applies to you too! It makes your hair softer and healthier, and more manageable.

Lather up a good bit of shampoo in your hair, rinse it out. You may find good effect out of washing it a second time with shampoo - I do as I have thick, long hair - as it ensures everything is clean and gets a better lather the second time. You only need half as much on take two. Conditioner follows...conditioner is something you should leave in for a few minutes. Take the time to massage your scalp with your fingers...it benefits the scalp and the roots of the hair, and hey...it feels really nice! Rinse it out thoroughly. Your choice as to whether you towel-dry, blowdry, or let your hair dry naturally. All are to good effect. Remember to give it a gentle brush or comb as it's drying to make sure you don't get the scraggly effect of bits and pieces sticking out everywhere.

Speaking of washing...
Do it. Do it regularly. Once a day is ideal. There's a lot of dirt and bacteria on your skin after a day...this makes you stink and isn't remarkably healthy. Or yummy.

A bar of soap is pretty standard, but as we know soap can strip out the goodness from your skin and leave it dry and irritated.

You can get liquid body washes and shower gels that don't have that drying effect nowadays. Use just your hands, or if you prefer, a sponge, loofah or shower mitt. The latter products can have a nice relaxing effect. You need SOME kind of wash, be it soap or liquid, to get your body clean and fresh. Choose something that suits your skin type and you like the smell of.

The face is a particularly sensitive and particularly important part of your body to wash. The skin is susceptible to being dry or oily...moreso than the rest of you. Don't ever use standard soap on it...body wash at worst. It's best to use a dedicated face wash during your shower, as it's designed for delicate skin. Better yet, use an exfoliant. These have little beads or grains (depending on the brand) that work to gently remove dead skin and impurities without bleaching the snot out of it with chemicals. You can get them with very fine grains or big, heavy grains or beads...depends on personal preference. Guys, you should be doing this too...especially younger guys or those with pimples/acne. If you exfoliate before you shave, this preps the skin nicely for a smooth, clean shave. Exfoliating involves applying a small amount of the product to the entire face...gently massage with your fingertips around your cheeks, your forehead, across your nose, down by your nostrils. Pay a little bit of attention to your temples, above your lips, and your chin too. This process can help reduce or prevent oil buildup and removes impurities and bacteria...the cause of pimples in young skin especially.

Once you rinse it off...notice how lovely and soft, smooth and fresh your skin feels.

Mmmm, nice skin.
You only have one...suit of skin, you could say. It's the biggest organ in your body and the most important...without it, you'd just about die every time you touched something. Take care of it, you can't ever replace it with new skin.

Maintaining your skin is a pain at first, but becomes habitual. Washing it is very important - it is your defense against the elements, dirt, germs and the sun. You should also keep it moisturised; there are standard products available for different skin types (dry, sensitive, oily, you name it) and help to balance and improve the condition of it, keep it healthy. Feed it nutrients. If you have very sensitive skin, more natural products are ideal. Look at health food stores or natural stores (dunno about overseas but there are a lot here...hand-made products from natural sources rather than chemicals...reduces the chance of reactions).

Your face should get moisturised (yes, you too guys!!) once a day ideally, but if you only remember once a week...well it's better than nothing. A dedicated facial moisturiser is ideal. Keep in mind your hands too...these get washed so frequently, touch everything, and get the most use out of any part of your body...every now and again, treat them to a little bit of skin product...whether it's a moisturiser or otherwise. It keeps them from getting dry, which prevents them from cracking and getting infections...keeps the skin supple and hence keeps them functioning as well as they can.

Speaking of hands...
This goes for everyone. Keep your nails at least somewhat tidy! Tatty, ragged edges and filthy black nails are just not necessary. They're hideous. No one wants to be touched by disgusting hands. Long nails, short nails, whatever. Just as long as you don't have ragged, sharp edges on them.

Every now and again just buff them back with an emery board if you don't do anything else, or trim them with clippers. Yes, boys, this doesn't make you girly for doing so. An emery board is just a piece of sandpaper on a piece of thick card or wood. Clippers are used by everyone for both fingernails and toenails. Don't worry about making them all pretty unless that's your thing! Me...I'll never wear polish or grow my nails long. I may be a girl but I always use computers for my job and I work with cars a LOT. Long nails aren't good for me at all. I just trim them back so they're tidy and clean...that's all that's NECESSARY...anything further is personal choice for beauty.





Okay, a few thousand words extra...and we has more post ;D Hope this is useful for a few of you out there! For the record…this one was 4,700+ words

I have to take exception about a few of these. For example, deoderant. The stuff smells bad. I would never want someone who reeked of this. Most of the women that I've been with have liked my smell; it seemed home to them. In fact, the one time someone thought that I smelled too sweet, it was a clear sign that we weren't right for one another. I often make my decisions on how someone smells, and if they are trying to confuse my nose with fake scents, I assume that they must smell AWFUL. If you absolutely must cut your stench, consider some of the unscented salts.

Hair - again, this is a matter of preference. Some people go either way on this. I've often been complemented on my soft pelt. But even here in the land of the eternal hippie, I've been asked if I would shave my chest. Go with what makes you happiest.

Washing once a day is too little for me sometimes. Again, go by your nose. Sometimes, I smell fine after a couple of days. Don't EVER use anti-bacterial soap. Some of what it kills is stuff that you want.

In regards to washing, once a day is the ideal minimum - most people will start to reek after that. Lucky ones won't so much. More than once...more power to ya. I'll wash even three times a day when I'm working on my car...get covered in grease and sweat and gawd knows what else.

As far as deodorants go...this is the widely-accepted norm. If you want to cater to the genreal populace, that's how it's done. There are of course exceptions everywhere, and if you really don't swing that way then it's no one's loss at all. No biggie Most people don't mind the smell of deodorant and quite like other scents (like colognes etc), but some hate it. It's just the lazy ones I'm targeting here that don't seem to think that their strong BO offends people...frankly, it's called offensive smells for a reason And boy do some people reek. But you may be one of the lucky ones that doesn't smell much at all

Hair...yep, personal preference again. Long, short, whatever...can look good on anyone. But a generally accepted rule (again, general...exceptions abound) is to keep it at least somewhat clean and a little tidy for hygeine's sake Greasy, dirty, matted long hair would put a LOT of people off, as would scruffy, greasy shorter hair. A lot of the standard, run-of-the-mill NTs would most likely consider unkempt hair untoucheable...along with its owner...

Wholeheartedly agree with the anti-bacterial soap thing though. I hate anti-bacterial anything. What do they want, superbug epidemics and people with NO immunity whatsoever? It's good to get rid of the dangerous stuff, but NOT the good guys.

Shale: how about you post a picture of yourself and your boyfriend as an example? Then you can post more specific instructions about where best to buy these items and which brands are considered better than others etc. Also, you seem to be aiming very specifically for the 18-25 year old audience, so you might want to clarify that.

Jeans + shirt + shoes makes sense and isn't asking too much, but some of the stuff you suggested--like a man wearing a scarf and jewellery, for instance--might come across as an affectation to the wrong person. Also, I personally hate hair-gel and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

No offense, but that's really patronizing...

Made all the worse by being stickied. Now it seems like it has some sort of 'official' sanction.

Benway - Good luck trying to get a photo of anyone aside from me, he sees a camera and he runs a million miles. He HATES them. Not that he's a good example anyway, he's all t-shirts and shorts and looks like he's been eaten by the engine bay of his car hands-first. I know I won't be able to convince him to change so I won't bother, he's comfortable as he is...only when the fact that he dresses like a Pokemon character bothers him will he look at getting something else.

I wouldn't consider brands to be better over others for anyone but myself. The reason there are so many is so that people have things to CHOOSE from. Like...I don't care whether you prefer Levi's over anything else in the jeans realm (they don't actually fit me anyway, lmao) because it's what looks good and feels great on the individual. You could pick up something awesome from a no-name brand that even came with threads hanging off it, and wear it for years because it suits you. Could go hard-lock the other way and you could find something that cost you a fortune and happened to be of a big brand name. Alternatively said item could look like rubbish on you because it's the wrong style/colour/etc for you. If anything, I'm a big advocate for 'screw brand names' actually. Lol.

The mention of accessories...purely an option, throwing stuff out there into a grab-bag of ideas basically. It's coming into winter here so a scarf (when it's not pelting down like it is right now) would go down well for those a little susceptible to the cold. Men's scarves tend to be a little coarser and heavier than women's scarves...they're also more appealing to an older are group, though indeed, this article is more focussed toward the younger guys (i sort of ignored girls...generally they seem to have a stronger idea anyway). Jewellery...again, a personal choice, not for everyone Indeed, it would be an affectation on some people and to others.

I think the message is basically - try something new, try something that looks good on and feels comfortable. Try dressing it up. Make use of your individuality. The best I can do is make sure the generally accepted do's and don't's are out there, and that there's the beginnings of a selection for people to build on.

maldoror - sorry you felt that way, but this isn't an instruction booklet, it's written in an editorial style. It's meant to tickle your funny-bone a little, it's meant to be a little sarcastic in places. It's a style of writing I fall into. Sorry if it offended you in any way - I wasn't trying to be patronising, I was actually trying to inject some colour into my writing.

In the words of unknown.....

Well it wasn't me I thought this would get a few replies then disappear off the bottom of the page...

Wow. too much to read for me at the moment.

Anyway you have seen how I dress anyway. I guess it makes it easy for you to make a judgement

I know that. I'm assuming that it was alex. Probably thought most of this stuff made
a lot of sense. He buys into the establishment ideals a lot more than I do. Probably
works for him too - wouldn't for me.

Yeah I noticed he's posted quite a few FAQ's et al in regards to this topic. A lot of it is LOL NERDZ U SHUD TRY FOLOWNG THES RULZ, which is what inspired me to write this to a degree. There are just screeds of rules...no explanation as to why they are there, what they mean and why they are relevant. I made a somewhat useless attempt at it here I've always found myself the WHYs behind things to be important after all. I'll never accept something as it is, I have to know WHY.

For some, following those unspoken 'rules' as it were is just another form of compliance though...and that would be why they just don't want to hear it from anyone. And fair enough too! For those that are simply completely innocent to all of this though...that's who this is really aimed at (and probably why it's been stickied).

Probably true. I know that I found the flirting treatise that someone pulled off the web REALLY helpful. I hope he stickies that.

Wow, you are completely osessed with hygene! Have you been diagnosed OCD?? I bath enough.. every day or two or four.. I dress for me. I have girls lined up.. I couldn't care less. Why date if you're not looking to reproduce? I don't get this thread at all. Why all the effort? Does it matter if people think you stink? Maybe it's the best way to weed out all the shallow jerks right off the top. Just a thought... Plus, your boy dresses in t's and shorts and whatnot right? So, if I wanted a girl like you.. I would just be me, right? Or should I work my butt off for someone I will grow to detest?

this is, well outside of my life, I wear what I like, and only for me, I dont care what others think, and thank the Universe, I dont date anything